Xinhai Revolution

The Xinhai Revolution was the overthrow of the last imperial dynasty of China, the Qing Dynasty, by various revolutionary groups. It was known as the Xinhai Revolution because it occurred in the Xinhai year of the Chinese calendar. The event began as multiple armed uprisings, but the turning point became the revolt in Wuchang. It was nearly defeated by the Beiyang Army imperial troops under General Yuan Shikai, but upon seeing the provinces proclaiming independence, Yuan negotiated the abdication of the six-year old Xuantong Emperor. Thus, the revolution ended the 2,000 year history of imperial dynasties in China and began the early Republican period.